Indiana has bypassed a troubling hunger milestone.

According to Feeding America’s annual Map the Meal Gap report, more than 1 million Hoosiers were food insecure in 2023, an increase from 730,000 in 2022. This is the first time in at least five years Indiana has seen food insecurity surpass the 1 million mark, highlighting a significant and urgent challenge.

Map the Meal Gap, now in its 15th year, is the only study that provides local-level estimates of food insecurity and food costs for every county and congressional district. The study builds upon USDA’s most recent report of national and state data, which showed 47 million people, including 14 million children, experienced food insecurity in 2023, the highest level in nearly a decade.

The report’s findings for Indiana align with nationwide trends of hunger rising throughout every county.

1,033,890 Hoosiers experienced food insecurity in 2023, which is an increase from 950,220 in 2022.
The average meal cost in Indiana was $3.20, which is down slightly from $3.54 in 2022.
56% of food-insecure Hoosiers earned incomes above the SNAP threshold, making them ineligible for federal food assistance benefits.
44% were below the SNAP threshold, qualifying for these benefits but still struggling to access adequate food.

Map the Meal Gap data shows how rates of food insecurity continue to rise throughout Indiana.

Within Gleaners’ 21-county service area specifically, 331,320 residents were food insecure in 2023, with an overall food insecurity rate of 13.9%. That’s an increase from 12.6% in 2022. While this rate is slightly below the state average of 15.1%, it still indicates that more than 1 in 8 people in our service area face food insecurity.

Feeding America’s report also highlights concerning trends across the country, especially regarding food insecurity among children. Nearly 20% of children across the country are experiencing food insecurity and in some rural counties, child food insecurity rates are estimated to be as high as 50%, according to data gathered by Feeding America.

Nationwide, the report also found:

Every U.S. county and congressional district is home to people facing hunger.
An estimated 7.4 million seniors (60 and older) and 5.2 million older adults (50-59) experienced food insecurity in 2023.
The national food budget shortfall, which reflects the extra money that people who are food insecure report needing to cover their food needs, is $32 billion. This translates to $22.37 a week per person, on average, and represents an increase for the third straight year.
Individuals who were food secure in 2023 reported spending an average of $3.58 per meal. Meal costs vary significantly by county throughout the nation, ranging from $2.60 to $6.09, showcasing the diverse economic challenges faced by communities.

Understanding hunger is the first step to solving it. Explore Feeding America’s interactive Map the Meal Gap tool to see how food insecurity looks in your community.